Why No Excuse

No Excuse is a blog focusing on poverty and poverty issues in Hamilton, Ontario. Look here daily for news items, events, resources, and a chance to engage in discussions with others on local poverty issues. No Excuse was originally staff-written when it was launched in 2007 as part of the Hamilton Spectator's Poverty Project, but it is now a community blog written by people who come from all walks of city life, but share a deep concern for poverty issues. See "Who Are We" for more information about our authors.

June 19, 2007

How about some good news?

Got back a little while ago from the graduation ceremony for the Notre Dame House School, an alternative school that operates out of the youth shelter and fits under the wing of the St. Charles Adult Education Centres of the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic School Board.Held in the cramped confines of the shelter's dining room, the event was like graduation ceremonies everywhere — if everyone else's grad ceremonies were carries out in small, sweltering rooms with little air and even less room to stand.The movie player balked and the VCR stubbornly refused to be recognized by the television and we all got slowly soaked to the skin as a steady stream of students trooped up to the front of the room to recieve certificates and - in four cases - diplomas. High School Diplomas from students whose peer group probably has as much experience smoking crack as cracking books. Spec photographer Ron Albertson, a straight-talking type who doesn't let his big heart blur his vision much, spent an hour and a half with these grads and came away remarking on how they were a mix of "pretty hard girls and just plain nice kids." Often wrapped in the same package. You'll meet one of those 'kids' — Lyndsay MacDonald — in tomorrow's paper, learn of her descent onto the streets and her hard climb up, but after watching the students today I'm pretty sure I could of picked any of the four graduates and found an equally compelling, inspiring story.Begun in 2001, the school has two teachers, an education assistant, and about 30 students, and a hell of a lot to feel good about. Just thought you'd like to know - it's not all heartless bureaucracies and venal policy makers. Sometimes it's about people, in all their glorious imperfection, triumphing. Not forever, maybe not even in the long run. But now. And sometimes that's enough.As Lyndsay told me "I break everything up into little sections and get 'em done one at a time."Bill Dunphy(Slightly blurry photo of the grads is from my cell phone camera, not Albertson's sharp shooting which you can see in tomorrow's paper)